Combination lock nut and washer



Nov. 14, 1950 TARWATER 2,529,854

COMBINATION LOCK NUT AND WASHER Filed Nov 19, 1945 W INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED TA S 2,529,854 p Q .COMBlNATIONLOCK NUTAND WASHER Lawson .Tarwater, I Redlands, f Califr," assignor, by 3"direct-and mesne assignments, of one-third to Norman PHMarshall,one'ethir'd-to William S. 7 Marshall, and one-third .ail ofRedlands',.Calif.

' L pplication November 19, liii ihfserial bio.

4 Claims. (C1. 1L51-'1 9.)'

My invention relates to lock nuts, having more particularly to do with anut' and split spiral spring washer construction for locking the nut ona threaded member. The invention is particularly designed for but is notlimited to use under conditions of very heavy load and vibration, suchasin holding down railroad'rails at intersections or overespeciallyheavilyjtravelled sections of railroad, although it is ofvalue wherever exceptionally severe conditionsfhave to be met. 7

' It is an object of theinvention'i to provide-a resilient lockWasheran'd" nut construction" in which the nut and washer are providedwith interengaging. faces acting to secure a lateral thrust of the nutagainst the threaded member in addition to the axial thrust resultingfrom the resilience of the lock washer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock washer and nutconstruction which, although resulting in a much improved holding of thenut on the threaded member, is simple to manufacture.

Further objects and features of the invention will appear in thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan of the washer constructed according to one form ofthe invention;

. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of a nut provided with parts cooperatingwith the washer shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the washer being shownas held down at its lower thick end;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of amade up nut and washer; and

' Fig. 6 is a modified form of the nut and washer of my invention, thewasher being shown in position on a threaded member on which is mounteda nut shaped to cooperate with the washer.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the numeral l0 indicates the body of thewasher, which is of the spiral split spring type. The washer iscountersunk as indicated at [2 to provide an eccentrically positionedrecess. The nut is formed with parts cooperating with the washer asshown in Fig. 2, in which the body of the nut I4 is provided with adepending flange or shoulder 16 preferably having a similar degree ofeccentricity to the axis of the bore through the nut as the recess l2 inthe washer Hi.

In this form of the invention, the depending fie-George; Henrylda Ishoulder I5 will enter-theiec'essi [2 the washer Iii when the nut istightened up, the washerturnr ingwith the nut until'the pressureeXertedby the nut on the washerbecomes so great-"that the washer is heldagainst'rotation by the work. which will occur when the nut canbefltighte'ned only a turn or so cri the threaded"'m ember,{lsiich asthe stud-T projecting frame work member |8.

: Byvirtue of "the eccentric'j ho lder l6; the;

last portion of the forward rotative movement of' the nut; will efiectalatera'l' di p cemenrof. the? washer and result in a strongside'w'ardpressure of the nut upon the threaded member, which will, inaddition, be subjected to the axial force due to the resilience of thespiral spring washer. The final position of the parts is shown in Fig.5, in which it will be noted that the nut I4 is firmly engaged againstthe washer l0, clamping it against the work I8.

Lock washers of the construction above described have been installed ona stretch of heavily travelled railroad track and have shown many timesthe holding capacity of conventional forms of lock washers and nuts.

In forming the washers of the kind described. the steel from which thewashers are made is soft while the recess is being formed and the washersplit as indicated at 20. After the forming operation the washers areheat treated to spring temper.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the nut is provided with aconcentrically arranged depending flange or shoulder 2| which is taperedinwardly, although the shoulder may be eccentric if desired. The washer22, designed to cooperate with the nut, is of the split spiral springtype and is formed with the recess 24 therethrough arranged slightly 01fcenter or eccentrically, and the wall of the recess is sloped to conformwith shoulder 2| of the nut. In this form of the invention the action ofthe nut, when tightened up against the washer, is to force the nut intoengagement with the washer and when fully entered therein will distortpart of the Washer outwardly, the remainder of the washer being held byfriction, due to the force exerted by the nut, from centering itself onthe nut, resulting in a sideward thrust of the nut against the threadedmember in addition to the axial thrust against the threads due to theresilience of the shape of the washer.

It is to be understood that the scope of the invention, as defined bythe accompanying claims, is not in any way intended to be limited bythis illustrative showing, since various modified and equivalentstructures may be used without departing from the broader spirit of theinvention.

Iclaim: 1. Lock nut and washer means for use in combination with a boltextending through a work element or the like providing a flat faceagainst which the said means can be tightened comprising a nut memberhaving 2, depending flange providing a. circular shoulder eccentricallydisposed with relation to the axis of the threaded bore of the nut, aresilient spirally shaped split washer adapted to be positioned againstthe work ele-E ment, said washer having a circular recess for thereception of the flange ,portion of said nut,

which thesaid means can be tightened comprising 'a nut member havingadepending flange providing acircular shoulder eccentrically disposedwith: relation to the axis of the threaded bore of the nut, a resilientspirally shaped split washer adapted, to be positioned against theworkele- 3d ment,'said washerfh'aving' a circular recess for thereception of the flange portionof said nut,

the outer wall of said recess being eccentrically disposed with relationto the axis of the hole through the washer whereby tightening of saidnut against said washer serves to flatten said washer into tightengagement with said work element and subsequently causes said recessand said fiangeto cooperate to exert lateral thrust on said nut andsecurely lock the same on the bolt.

3. Lock nut and washer means as defined in claim 2 in which saidshoulder on the flange of said nut and said outer wall of saidv recessare correspondingly inclined to the axis of the nut and'washer.

4. Lock nut. andwasher means as defined in c1aim12 in which the outerwall of said recess is parallel to the axis of the washer.

' LAWSON TARWATER.

REFERENQES CITED :The following references are of record inithe file ofthis patent: y UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 205,712 WhitmarshJuly 2, 1878 398,535 Patten Feb. 26, 1889 970.101 Oma1ia Sept. 13, 19101,020,178 Battin Mar. 12, 1912 1,149,329 Boug Aug. 10, 1915 1,793,141Stoll Feb. 17,1931

.Tarwater et 'al. Dec. 18, 1945

